Autographic register



April 24, 1945. P, M, Hus 2,374,202

AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER Filed Jan. 21, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR P 4 RL M. HILLS AVA April 24, 1945.

HILES 2,374,202

AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER Filed Jan. 21, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented Apr. 24, 1945 AUTOGRAPHIC REGISTER Pearl M. lilies, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The Standard Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application January 21, 1942, Serial No. 427,629

16 Claims.

This invention pertains to autographic registers, and more particularly to a mounting device to accommodate an extraordinary number of carbon shields in a conventional register for production of a large number of manifold copies.

In the usual type of autographic registers, a plurality of superposed record strips are progressively advanced longitudinally over a writing tablet relative to stationary strips of carbon or transfer material transversely interleaved therebetween. To prevent the advancing record strips from catching or dragging upon the edges of the transverse transfer strips, which may become mutilated thereby, it is common practice to provide stationary flaps of fabric, fiber or heavier paper which overlap the margins of the carbon or transfer strips intermediate the record strips and serve to guide the record strips past the meeting edges of the carbon material without interference therewith.

The ordinary autographic register has capacity for an original and three carbon copies, or at most not more than a total of six copies. However, moclern commercial practice many times necessitates production of a much greater number of copies. This is made possible by improved transfer materials and better equipment, whereby increased legibility oi the final underlying copies is assured.

One practical mode of producing a relatively large number of distinct copies is byeffecting writing ressure simultaneously from above and below the manifolding assembly, which method, per se, forms no part of the present invention, but is set forth in a copending application for Letters Patent of Albert W. Metzner, Serial No. 441,000, filed April 29, 1942.

The present invention enables such large numbers of record strips and corresponding transfer strips to be readily accommodated in a conventional register without the necessity of enlarging it to objectionable length.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction as well as the means and mode of operation of autographic registers, whereby they may not only be economically manufactured, but will be efiicient in use, of compact form, capable of producing a large number of simultaneous copies, have few parts, and be unlikely to get out of order.

A further object of the invention is to enable autographic registers of conventional or standard size to be adapted for production of an increased number of copies,

A further object of the invention is to reduce the required space for an increased number of carbon guards or shields necessary to increased register capacity and to enable a relatively large number thereof to be operatively arranged within a minimum limit.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carbon shield or guard mounting for autographic registers having the advantageous structural features and inherent meritorious characteristics herein described.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be .protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, or their equivalents, as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein is shown the preferred but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

Fig. l is a perspective view of an autographic 1 register in which the invention is embodied in open condition to display the operating parts and their relation.

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view of the rear portion of a typical autographic register, showing the customary mount for carbon guards or shields and the supplemental mount to accommodate an additional number of shields.

Fig. 3 is a detail top plan view partly broken away of the structure illustrated in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a detail end elevation.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the supplemental or auxiliary carbon shield mount.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View illustrating the relation of the superposed record strips and interleaved transverse carbon strips and the associated carbon shields and their mounting means.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a spring clip or quill for releasably clamping the folded carbon shield to the transverse cylindrical anchor rods.

Fig. 8 is a similar view of a spring clip or quill for securing the carbon shield to a flat anchor bar of the supplemental frame.

In the drawings there is illustrated a typical autographic register in open condition, of which I is the cabinet or housing. In the forward portion of the cabinet are mounted a pair of revoluble pin wheels 2, which are actuated by a crank 3 to advance superposed strips 4 of record material from a supply compartment in the bot tom of the cabinet over a writing tablet 5. Transversely disposed over the writing tablet 5 and interleaved between the record strips 4 are strips or sheets 6 of transfer material. At the front of the writing tablet is a strip guide plate i. Mounted for swinging movement into overlapping relation with the writing tablet and the rec- 0rd strips thereon, when the writing tablet is depressed into its operative position, is a. swinging frame carrying a hold-down bar 8 which has therein conformations 9 for clearance of the feeding pins of the pin wheels 2. The bar 8 serves to hold the record strips loosely in engagement with the pin wheels while being advanced over the writing tablet past the recording position. A cover Hi hinged to the cabinet at l I for disposition in parallel relation over the writing tablet and record strips, has therein an opening I2 through which access is had to the record strips. for inscription thereof. As commonly constructed, the writing tablet is provided with rearwardl; extending parallel arms I3, the rear ends of which are laterally offset into pivotal engagement with brackets l4 secured to the interior side walls of the cabinet I. Mounted in the arms l3 of the writing tablet is a plurality of transverse, relatively spaced guide members l5, which ordinarily comprise a series of rollers, but which perform no roller function and may be merely fixed rods or bars. To accommodate additional record strips, it has heretofore been more or less common to attach to the arms I3 by welding or otherwise, small brackets 16, which support several supplemental transverse guides 15a. The rear extremities of the pivoted arm I 3 extend downwardly at l3 and support a transverse guide roller [-1 which is common to all the record strips 4 of the assembly.

The superposed record strips 4 are collectively withdrawn from a supply packet in the bottom of the cabinet and about the guide roller I7, beyond which the strips are separated and are individually directed between and over succeeding guide members 15 and |5a of the series.

To protect the rearward edges of the transverse strips 6 of carbon or transfer material, carbon shields are provided which comprise lengths of fabric, or other flexible material, which are reversely folded on themselves about the guides l5 and I5a to form a pair of superposed protective flaps l8 which are anchored to the transverse guides l5 and IE; and extend thence in superposed overlapping relation intermediate the superposed record strips 4 toward and onto the rear of the writing tablet. The folded carbon shields l8 are securedto the transverse guides l and I512 by spring clips l9,,which grasp the guide and enclosing fold of the shield l8 under tension. At their extremities the flaps of the respective carbon shields extend short distances above and below corresponding carbon or transfer strips 6, the margins only of which are thus interleaved between the shield portions. By this means the moving record strips above and beneath the transverse transfer strips are prevented from interference therewith. As thus far described, the structure is that of well-known autographic register construction, and, per se, forms no part of the present invention, except in combination with mounting means for additional carbon shields, as hereafter described.

Improved method of rendering increased numbers of manifold copies legible have created a field for autographic registers capable of accommodating a greater number of record strips and interleaved transfer strips. However, merely to extend the arms l3 of the writing tablet and increase the number of transverse strip guides l5 and |5a would necessitate objectionable enlargement of the register cabinet I. The present improvement consists in enabling additional record strips and transfer material necessary to the increased number of copies to be accommodated in the conventional register which before was adapted to production of only a limited number of copies.

To mount additional carbon shields and 50 accommodate more record strips a ladder-like swinging frame comprising parallel side arms 20 interconnected in spaced relation by a plurality of relatively spaced transverse bars 2| is pivotally secured at 22 in this instance concentric with the rearmost guide [5a, for vertical swinging movement. The transverse bars 2| serve as guides for a part of the enlarged assembly of record strips, which, as shown in Fig. 2, are directed between adjacent bars 2| from above, whereas the record strips are directed intermediate the guides |5I5a of the primary series from below.

Additional folded carbon shields I 8a are engaged about the transverse bars 2! and extend in superposed relation with each other and with the group of shields l8 into overlapping relation with the margins of additional interleaved strips of transfer material. Such shield I8a are secured by spring clips 19a analogous to the spring clips l9 but shaped and proportioned to agree with the bars 2|.

The mounting frame 20-2| is foldable into parallel superposed relation with the primary series of guides when the register is in use. The respective series of guides and shield mounts, both of which are pivoted for swinging motion, are relatively adjustable to facilitate the threading of the individual record strips therethrough. Such attachment unit readily accommodates additional strips and corresponding carbon shields in a compact assembly, which is easily contained in a register cabinet of ordinary size without interference with the original register structure or increase of the size thereof, and enables easy access to the various strips of the assembly and the individual guides therefor.

As shown in Figs. ,2 and 6 the topmost record strip of original copy strip is preferably threaded under the final cross member ill of the supplemental frame. This serves to impose a yielding frictional resistance upon the topmost strip to hold it against shifting while being written upon,

and it also assists in smoothing out the strip while being advanced into writing position.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable; but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in .order to comply with the statute, the

invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprises the preferred form of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An autographic register, wherein superposed record strips are advanced past a recording position relative to interleaved transfer material, the margins of which are protected by overlapping carbon shields mounted on transverse anchor members within the register, including a supplemental frame attachment including transverse spaced bars forming individual strip guides for additional strips and supports for carbon shields pertaining to transfer material interleaved be tween the additional strips, said supplemental frame being disposed in superposed parallel relation with strip guide and carbon shield mounting devices originally contained in the register.

2. The combination with an autographic register having a plurality of relatively spaced transverse rods for guiding record strips and supporting interposed carbon shields, of an attachment therefor accommodating an increased number of record strips and carbon shields additional to those originally accommodated in the register, including a frame comprising parallel spaced side members and transverse parallel spaced bars connecting the side members, adapted to guide supplemental record strip introduced between succeeding bars thereof and to support carbon shields for transfer material interleaved between the additional record strips, and mounting means for said frame by which the attachment frame is supported in'the register in vertically spaced relation with strip guide and carbon shield mounting devices originally contained in the register.

3. An autographic register, wherein superposed record strips are progressively advanced transversely of interleaved portions of transfer material past a recording position, the initially engaged margins of the transfer material being protected by overlapping flaps of shielding material to prevent mutilation of the transfer material by relatively moving record material, including two series of plural relatively spaced transverse anchor bars to which the shield flaps are attached, the respective series of anchor bars being disposed in superposed substantially parallel planes, one series of said anchor bars being bodily adjustable relative to the other series to afiord easy access thereto.

4. A mounting structure for a plurality of carbon shields of an autographic register, including two interpivoted supporting frames each including a plurality of transverse anchor members to which individual carbon shields are attached, the

frames being relatively foldable into and out of parallel superposed relation.

5. An autographic register, wherein superposed record strips are advanced past a recording position, two series of individual strip guides disposed in parallel planes, one series above the other series thereof, and mounting means therefor, at least one of the series of guides adjustable relative to the guides of the other series.

6. An autographic register, wherein superposed record strips are advanced past a recording position, including a plurality of individual strip guides arranged in two groups, one group thereof being located above the other group, the strip guidesof each group being engaged by and accommodating different record strips additional to those engaged and accommodated by the strip guides of the other group. v

' 7. An autographic register, wherein superposed record strips are advanced past a recording position, including a pair of interpivoted carriers, individual strip guides supported by each carrier and movable therewith relative to the individual strip guides supported by the other carrier.

8. An autographic register, wherein superposed record strips are advanced past a recording position relative to interleaved transfer material, and a plurality of transfer material shields overlapping the margins of the transfer material intermediate the record strips, including two series of individual carbon shield mounts disposed in parallel planes with one series of carbon shield mounts superposed above the other series thereof. 9. An autographic register, wherein superposed record strips are advanced past a recording posi-v tion relative to interleaved transfer material, and a plurality of transfer material shields overlapping the margins of the transfer material intermediate the record strips, including a plurality of individual carbon shield mounts, different carbon shield mounts of which are disposed at different levels.

10. An autographic register, wherein superposed record strips are advanced past a recording position relative to interleaved transfer material, and a plurality of transfer material shields overlapping the margins of the transfer material intermediate the record strips, including a plurality of individual carbon shield mounts, a portion. of which are vertically ofiset relative to others of the plurality.

11. An autographic register, wherein superposed record strips are advanced past a recording position relativeto interleaved transfer material, and a plurality of transfer material shields overlapping the margins of the transfer material intermediate the record strips, including two interpivoted supporting frames, and a plurality of individual carbon shields supported on eachswing ing frame.

12. An autographic register, wherein super posed record strips are advanced past a recording position relative to interleaved transfer material, and a plurality of transfer material shields overlapping the margins of the transfer material intermediate the record strips, including a plurality of individual carbon shields and independent relatively adjustable carriers for different carbon shields of the plurality.

13. An autographic register of the type wherein superposed record strips are advanced past a recording position relative to interleaved transfer material, including a plurality of carbon shields,

in superposed record strips are advanced past a.

recording position relative to interleaved transfer material, including a plurality of carbon shields, one for each portion of interleaved transfer material, and pivoted supportin devices for supporting difierent groups of said shields for bodily movement of one group independently of A the other group.

16. An autographic register assembly, wherein the capacity of an autographic register having a series of strip guides and carbon shield supports disposed in a common substantially horizontal plane is increased to accommodate additional record strips and carbon shields for transfer material interleaved between the additional record strips, including a supplemental series of strip guides and carbon shield supports disposed in a,

PEARL M. HILES. 

